The New Kid

Chapter 36

I find Sylvia in the art room when she didn't show up for lunch today. That's what I would have done too if I was feeling down. I'm still mad at Logan and his friends for taking advantage of her. If I ever saw Chasen again, I would thank him profusely for being a real man, one who protects and stands up for women. She's sketching away. I feel like I'm looking at a version of myself, like an out-of-body experience. 

"Hey friend," I say gently and sit by her side at the table. She looks at me, "Hey Avalon." 

I tell her, "I came to cheer you up!" I pull out a fresh M&M cookie from the snack-bar from my bag and offer it to her. She smiles and takes it, "These are my favorite." Chocolate was a helpful cure.

I pull her up by the arm, "The boys  and I miss you. Especially Drew," I tease. "Let's go to our table." She isn't too reluctant, and we go to the caf to get some lunch. 

..........................

School was mostly uneventful, to my relief. I'm heading to Christian's car with Christian and the boys and Sylvia. We've all decided to go get smoothies before Christian and I go to my house for family dinner at 6PM. Joey's in the middle of teasing Christian about meeting my family, officially as my boyfriend. Monty is with us, but he's pretty quiet and doesn't seem to want to be part of the conversation about me and my boyfriend. 

Drew elbows Monty, seeing as he's not being himself, "Cat got your tongue, friend?" He jokes. Monty's not in the mood, "Not now, Drew." We all quiet down, and Christian makes us all come to a halt by bolting in front of the group as we're pacing toward his hummer. "Look, I want to say something here. To everyone." 

We all listen. Christian announces, "Monty, you're my friend. I want us to get along still, okay?" Ty says, "Here, here!" and Tristan says, "I second that!" 

Monty looks at Christian in annoyance and mutters, "What happened to bros before hoes?" 

Tristan, Ty, Joey, Drew, Sylvia, and me shoot Monty a look. "What?" he shrugs, it's just a saying."

Christian glares at him, "No, don't talk about my girlfriend like that, Monty! This is why we're not getting along. You don't respect her or me for that matter! What's wrong with you these days?" 

Monty's still ticked about everything, clearly from the stupid things he's saying, and the rest of us are just gaping at Monty and Christian smack-talking each other. 

"You're obviously not that good of a friend," Monty says. 

"No, that's just not true, you're the one who's being a sucky friend lately." Christian retorts back. 

"I'm obviously not wanted here," Monty says in an irritated tone. "Enjoy your smoothie," he says to the group and leaves to get onto his cruiser, parked at the end of the lot. We all watch him rev up the engine and speed away. 

I still feel really bad for coming between these two. It was never my intent. I just knew my heart wanted Christian and not Monty. But it was causing all the tension in the world between two best friends, and it broke my heart. 

Tristan threw his hands up in the air, calling out to a far-gone Monty, "Come on, man! Don't be like that!"

As if that wasn't enough drama, Brock decided to make an appearance moments later.

"Oh crap," I mutter under my breath. 

Christian is still focused on the whole Monty thing when he turns around to see what I'm talking about.

Joey says, "Right now, man? I just really want my smoothie already!"

Brock has a couple buddies lagging behind him. Why they follow him around so much is beyond me. 

"Chris," he says. "Remember that fight? Don't be late to the docks, 9PM bro. Brock looks sure of him self, crossing his arms and opening his stance to the group.

Christian is surprisingly chill, "I'm not part of that scene anymore, Brock. You know that. 

I have no idea what Christian is referring to. 

"The hell you are," retorts Brock. His henchmen come a few steps closer for intimidation purposes. "Be there, loser," he repeats toward Christian especially.

Drew grabs Sylvia and nudges her behind him. She peers out from behind his muscular shoulder.

Christian growls at him, "I am not going to fight you, Brock. Get it through your thick skull."

"That's fine," says Brock, "but I am going to find you when you least expect it and fight you."

Christian motions us all to get into his hummer as Brock seems to be getting closer and closer with every word, growing increasingly aggressive with his words.

Christian sounds exasperated, and ignores Brock's last comments, "Man, I'm done with this. Get in my car everyone. " We don't hesitate to pile in quickly.

Brock is really pissed now, "Where do you think you're going, loser? I'm not done talking to you!" 

Christian gets in the front seat, and since there's no car parked in front of us, he drives through the space and speeds away faster than Monty had earlier.

Sylvia sighs, "That was close." "Too close," confirms Christian.